A deal between the Anne Arundel County Council and the county executive has been struck to allow a hiring preference for military veterans.
Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4, amended his bill Monday to give veterans priority when applying for public safety positions and an automatic interview for veterans applying for other county government jobs.
County Executive John R. Leopold and some council members had opposed the bill because it gave automatic preference to veterans in all county job openings.
With the changes, the entire council and Leopold have co-signed on the bill.
Richard Heath, of the county?s Veterans Commission, testified before the council in support of the bill changes.
“I think this is going to be a big step forward in providing hope and encouragement to veterans returning to Anne Arundel County,” Heath said.
The bill will go before the council for final approval Dec. 3.
Stormwater tax credit gains support, opposition
The council unanimously supported changes to Councilwoman Cathy Vitale?s stormwater tax credit bill, but county officials warned of the fiscal consequences.
The bill by Vitale, R-District 5,aims to give tax breaks if property owners use techniques to reduce stormwater running off their property. This runoff has been blamed for destroying streams.
With the changes, homeowners can be credited 10 percent of the costs of improvements up to $2,500, and business owners can be credited 50 percent of improvements up to $25,000. The credit lasts only five years.
But the tax credits could hurt the county budget, said Alan Friedman, government affairs director for County Executive John R. Leopold.
“The problem you have is that you?re taking money out without putting money in,” Friedman said.
“That?s not a smart fiscal practice.”
